CHAPTER ONE
Team Gibbs, minus Jethro and Tony, found themselves gathered inside Abby's lab one November morning. They had been summoned there by the SFA for reasons unknown.
Ellie leant against Abby's desk and tapped her fingers against the wood. "Any idea what Tony sent us down here for?"
"Not a single clue," Abby replied. "But I bet it's going to be really exciting!"
"You bet your sweet pigtails it's exciting!" came a voice from the doorway.
Everyone spun around as Tony came through the doors.
"What's going on Tony?" Jimmy Palmer asked.
Tim McGee peered over Tony's shoulder. "And where's Gibbs?"
"The boss has gone for a coffee run," Tony answered. "He'll be back in about ten minutes, so we'll need to make this quick." He held out his arms and made a 'come here' gesture. "Gather round my friends, we're having a campfire."
"Campfire?" Ellie was perplexed. "Surely that's a fire hazard waiting to happen?"
"Do not be alarmed Eleanor," Ducky said as they all gathered round the agent, "our Anthony was only speaking figuratively, although as I recall there was that one time he..."
"Thank you Ducky," Tony interrupted, "I really don't think Ellie needs to hear that story."
"Ah yes, quite right Anthony, Maybe some other time."
"Now where was I?"
"A campfire?"
"Ah thank you, Jimmy-boy," Tony said. "Everyone, I have an announcement...
...
...
"Well, what is it?!" Tim cried.
"Hang on McImpatient, I'm building the tension!"
"I'll build tension on you in a minute," Abby said, raising here hand towards his head. "Spill it."
Tony backed up, "Alright, Alright." He took a deep breath. "Last night I asked Jethro to marry me...and he said yes."
The reactions from his friends was instantaneous.
"All right, go Tony!" that was Abby.
"Congratulations, man." Tim's was short but no less heartfelt.
Ducky stepped forward and shook Tony's hand. "Many congratulations my boy, I'm sure that you'll make an honest man out of Jethro...and he out of you."
"Thank you, Ducky."
"I'm very happy to hear the news Tony," Palmer smiled, "I'm sure you'll be very happy together."
Ellie took her congratulations a step further by wrapping her arms around Tony in a brief embrace.
"Congratulations Tony, you'll have a great future together."
The SFA hugged her back. "Thanks Bish, and uh, I think you've been hanging around Abby a little too much."
"Hey!" the lab rat protested, "there's nothing wrong with hanging around me."
Tony smiled. "You're right Abs, there's nothing wrong with it at all."
He paused and looked around. "Listen guys, there's something else I need to ask you: as you are, of course, well aware Thanksgiving is coming up in less than a week and I want to surprise Jethro by having the wedding then."
"On Thanksgiving?!" Tim asked in surprise. "Do you know how hard that's going to be to do on such short notice?"
"That's why I've gathered you all here," Tony glanced around at his posse. "I need your help to organise this thing. We don't want anything fancy, just something that Jethro and I can look back on when we're old and grey...well when I'm grey, at least, all hope is lost for the boss in that area."
"What do you need us to do?" Ellie asked.
"I need you to help me organise it. I trust you guys with my life, now I'm trusting you with my wedding."
Abby gave the agent a sloppy salute. "You can trust us any time, bossman number two!"
Tony smiled. "I know I can Abby," he said sincerely.
The SFA pulled a piece of paper out of his pocket. "I've already got the ball rolling; last night I called my dad, one of his business partners is a reverend here in DC and he agreed to do the wedding on one condition..."
"And what's that?" Jimmy inquired.
" He wants me to come to his church and the kids at Sunday School a speech about crime and safety. All in all it's not a bad trade off."
"How does your dad know a reverend?" Tim wanted to know.
"Like I said he's on old business partner - said business didn't turn out too well -but the two remained close...luckily for me."
The SFA turned to Jimmy. "Gremlin, I'm putting you in charge of the cake and decorations. I don't mind what you do, but if you need any help...I like chocolate and Jethro prefers lemon.
"Are you sure about this, Tony? Have you seen my baking..."
"I didn't say you had to bake the cake yourself, Palmer." Tony rolled his eyes in exasperation. "I said that you were in charge of it."
"Oh, sorry, I can do that." the assistant ME wondered if he could get a decent wedding cake at Walmart.
"Abby, I'm putting you and Ellie in charge of the bridesmaid dresses."
"And just who are these bridesmaids going to be?" Abby asked, slyly.
"Well I was thinking about asking Dolores in HR and Vance's secretary as well," Tony answered. "Do you think they'll look good in cocktail dresses?"
Punching her friend lightly in the shoulder, Abby pouted. "Be serious Tonester."
"Ok, ok," Tony held his hands up in mock surrender as he smiled at Abby and at Ellie. "I think you know who we would want our bridesmaids to be."
Reaching into his jacket pocket, Tony pulled out a wad of cash and handed it to the forensic scientist. "Take this and Ellie and go out and buy the most beautiful dresses you can find."
Abby flipped through the cash in her hands. "Tony there's over a thousand dollars here!"
"Well you better use it wisely, then. I want you turn heads at the wedding...but not too many heads; it's still my wedding."
Abby put the cash in her pocket. "Don't worry Tony, Ellie and I are going to get dresses that'll make Cinderella's look like complete trash."
"I can't wait to see them." Tony smiled and then faced the elderly ME and handed over another small pile of cash. "Ducky, I want you in charge of the food. I don't mind how you do it; hire a caterer or a simple buffet, but I know you'll do it right."
"I shall endeavor to do my best, Anthony," Ducky replied. "You didn't have to give me money though. I would not have minded the expenses."
"Nonsense Ducky," Tony shook his head. "Besides, you need your money for your suit."
"Oh, indeed, a new suit is must for a most momentous occasion."
"And for your usher duties."
"And for my usher...I beg your pardon?"
Tony put his hand on Ducky's shoulder and squeezed reassuringly. "That's right Ducky, who else but you and Palmer would I make my ushers?"
Palmer gaped. "You want ME to be an usher as well?!"
"Of course Gremlin. You're two of the most responsible people I know, you'll both do a great job."
"Gee, thanks Tony."
Tim was the only one who yet to be given a task and he waited nervously.
"So McWeddingGuest I have an extremely important task for you."
Tim took a deep breath and prepared himself. "What is it Tony?"
"I want you to buy the flowers."
Tim blinked. "The flowers?"
Tony nodded. "Yep, I want you to go out and find the best and biggest bunch you can."
"Isn't finding the flowers a job for the g..." he noticed Abby and Ellie scowling at him.
"My dear McGee, you weren't going to suggest that flower hunting was a job merely for the ladies, were you?" Tony folded his arms and raised an eyebrow at the junior agent. "That's rather sexist of you McStuck-in-the-1920s."
"No! No!" McGee shook his head frantically, "I can get the flowers, no problem."
Tony wrapped his arms around McGee's shoulders. "That's what I like to hear. Besides, I need you on your A-game for this wedding."
"Why?"
"Because I can't wait to hear your best man speech; all the stuff you know about me, it's gonna be a doozy."
Tim gaped at the older man. "Y-You're making me the best man?"
"Of course, who else is it gonna be...Vance?"
"Wow! I don't know what to say...except, thanks Tony."
"You're welcome Tim, just remember not to let this temporary power I have given you go to you're head. Don't forget that I already have my best man speech prepared for your wedding."
Tim's eyes narrowed. "How did you know that I was going to ask you to be my best man?"
Tony winked at him. "I didn't...you just told me."
Before McGee could respond Tony's cell phone rang and he fished it out of his pocket.
"DiNozzo."
"Where the hell are you?" Gibbs's voice came through the end of the line sounding curse and grouchy - in other words, completely normal. "I come back and there's no one here, why is that?"
"Oh, hey Boss, we're all down in Abby's lab." Tony smiled though he of course knew that Jethro couldn't see it.
"Why are you all down there?"
Tony racked his brains for an answer, but before he could respond Abby snatched the cell out of his grasp.
"Hey Bossman! Tony and Tim were just showing me some evidence they found on the the McCallister case."
Abby could almost see her silver fox frowning on the other end of the line. "Abs we solved that case months ago."
"Oh, uh, I know! But it was such an interesting case that we thought Ellie might like to know all about it...for training purposes, you know."
Gibbs sighed. "Just send them upstairs now."
"Aye aye captain! You can't see me but I'm totally saluting you right now."
"Wrong hand Abby."
"How did you...you know what, never mind, you're totally psychic of course. You'll team will be back up those stairs before you can say 'Semper Fi.'"
"Good because we've got a case; body at Chevy Chase Pavilion."
He hung up before Abby could respond.
"Remember guys not a word to Gibbs," Tony said as he took the cell back from Abby.
"Our lips will be sealed Anthony," Ducky reassured the agent as he and Palmer headed out of the lab and back to autopsy.
"Thanks Ducky," Tony replied, before turning to Ellie and Tim. "Come on guys, before Boss makes us scrub the head with our toothbrushes."
With a quick wave to Abby the three of them headed back up to the bullpen.
